New Story: Brett Hagler - Bold and Balanced New Solutions to Old Issues

11/07/23 • 28 min

"There is a decent chance that this works, and then if it works, and that if it can be what the vision and the promise is, then for our mission, which is to pioneer solutions to end global homelessness, it's actually irresponsible for us not to try it.” - Brett Hagler

When age-old problems aren’t being solved by current practices or aren’t keeping up with the rate at which they are growing, new solutions are needed. But new solutions require innovative ideas and a perfect balance between boldness and being calculated to pull them off.

Brett Hagler and his team at New Story think they have struck that balance. Their mission is to end global homelessness. To achieve this, they've conducted a rigorous analysis of what works and what doesn't within this space currently and developed a short list of things to be reimagined through New Story. Among the innovations to come from that approach has been their groundbreaking 100% funding model.

In this episode, we're joined by Brett Hagler, the CEO and Co-Founder of New Story, as he shares insights into his "just go do it" mindset, offers advice on embracing "unreasonable" endeavors, and unveils the model that New Story has built to usher innovation into a pressing and rapidly escalating world issue.

Contents

1 - Brett’s “just go do it” origin (1:47)

2 - How New Story started (7:52)

3 - Developing New Story’s key goals (12:53)

4 - The 100% model (15:14)

5 - Listening to feedback from his team (19:01)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

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"There is a decent chance that this works, and then if it works, and that if it can be what the vision and the promise is, then for our mission, which is to pioneer solutions to end global homelessness, it's actually irresponsible for us not to try it.” - Brett Hagler

Contents

1 - Brett’s “just go do it” origin (1:47)

2 - How New Story started (7:52)

3 - Developing New Story’s key goals (12:53)

4 - The 100% model (15:14)

5 - Listening to feedback from his team (19:01)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Previous Episode

[Trends] 5 Things Leading to Nonprofit Innovation - Mark Miller

“Your leadership might be a burn victim of failed innovation, which is: we want to say that we're for innovation, but we want 99 percent of all of the things that we try to work at 10, 000%. And that's just not how it works.” - Mark Miller

Innovation is a big buzzword in the nonprofit space right now. But it doesn’t have just to be a buzzword. While the word feels new and trendy, the act of innovation has always been what drives the industry forward. And any organization can be at the forefront of that drive into the future if they’re intentional about it.

Over the past seven episodes of Future Nonprofit, we have brought you various stories of innovative nonprofits and organizations and learned from their paths, but in this episode, we’re going to slow things down and go right to the basics.

Mark Miller, producer and co-founder of Historic joins host Ted Vaughn to break down five of the biggest trends in the nonprofit space and gives you practical tips on how to move with those trends.

Trends

1 - Taking Bigger Risks Through Structured Testing (1:29)

2 - Branded Monthly Giving Programs (6:02)

3 - Taking Gen Z Seriously (10:03)

4 - Leveraging Your Brand to Diversify Revenue (13:25)

5 - Workers Leaving the Nonprofit Sector (17:31)

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Next Episode

Homeboy: Tom Vozzo - Creating Space for Everyone to Thrive

"Society throws up a lot of hurdles to people really trying to do it the right way, right? We, and the rest of society, should knock down those hurdles, but also give space so that people can thrive.” - Tom Vozzo

Success has everything to do with circumstance. Tom Vozzo believes that with the right support and opportunity, everyone has the ability to do good in them. His commitment to wanting to do good for others is what drove him to the nonprofit space after a nearly three-decade career in the for-profit world.

As the CEO of Homeboy Industries, Tom and his dedicated team focus on the rehabilitation and re-entry of gang members through transformative programs. Through firsthand experience, he has witnessed the profound effect of offering empathy and fresh opportunities to individuals facing challenges. This empathetic approach stands as a foundational pillar in Homeboy's remarkable success as an organization.

In this episode, Tom delves into the fusion of his corporate expertise with his unwavering commitment to investing in people. He shares insights on overcoming the scarcity mindset and imparts valuable advice for leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.

Contents

1 - Tom’s corporate experience

2 - Joining Homeboy

3 - Overcoming the scarcity mindset

4 - Building a supportive culture

5 - Balancing business and compassion

6 - Advice to leaders

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy